Jonathan Fairbanks and Clyde Edwin Tuck

Past and Present of Greene County, Missouri

Early and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens

WILLIAM R. DANIEL. No matter what line of work one is engaged in he should strive to become an expert in it, which will not only result in better remuneration, but a greater degree of satisfaction and pleasure all around. If one goes at his work in a half-hearted, slip-shod manner very little good will be accomplished and little satisfaction gotten out of it. In fact, it is not too much to say that poor work should never be done, for it is very often worse than nothing-detrimental. William R. Daniel, the skilled coach carpenter in the Frisco's new shops at Springfield, realized these facts when he made up his mind when a young man to become a carpenter. He knew the world was full of wood workers in various lines and that to achieve anything really worth while he would have to become a superior workman. Years of patient and careful work have made him one.

Mr. Daniel was born on October 5, 1857, in Savannah, Tennessee. He is a son of Calloway and Caroline (Hutton) Daniel, natives of Tennessee and Alabama, respectively. They grew up in the South, attended school and were married in Tennessee, from which state in 1861they removed to Illinois, where they lived during the Civil war, and, in 1865, came to New Madrid county, Missouri, where they spent the rest of their lives on a farm, dying near the town of New Madrid, the father in 1883, and the mother in 1893. Politically, Calloway Daniel was a Democrat, and he belonged to the Granger order. His family consisted of ten children, namely: Emily and Elsie are living; Thomas is deceased; James is living; Patrick is deceased, William R. of this sketch; Jane, Alice, Benjamin and George are all deceased.

William R. Daniel was four years old when he left his native state of Illinois and was about nine years old when his parents brought him to New Madrid county, Missouri, where he grew to manhood on a farm and there worked during the summer months, attending the district schools in the winter. He followed farming in that county until 1884, when, on August 12th of that year, he came, to Springfield, this state, and engaged in carpenter work for a few years. On November 23, 1890, he went to work for the Frisco System at the old North Side shops, in the coach department as a carpenter, where he remained until 1909, when the new shops were opened, at which time he was transferred to the latter and promoted to coach carpenter, which position he still holds, giving eminent satisfaction, for he is not only exceptionally skillful, but is a fast and painstaking workman, always conscientious in his work.

Mr. Daniel was married on December 22, 1880, in New Madrid, Missouri, to Fanny V. Edmondson, who was born there June 26, 1864, and was reared and educated at that place. She is a daughter of John and Lavina S. (Freeman) Edmondson. Her father was born in Louisville, Kentucky, November 10, 1820, and her mother was born in North Carolina, December 1, 1834. They grew up in the South, were educated and married there, removing to Springfield, Missouri, where the death of Mr. Edmondson occurred on February 3, 1901; his wife died in Kansas City, May 8, 1904; they are buried in Springfield. Mr. Edmondson, who devoted his life principally to agricultural pursuits, was a well-read man. Politically he was a Democrat. His family consisted of four children, namely: Mrs. Elizabeth J. Warrington lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Laura is deceased; Fanny V., wife of Mr. Daniel of this sketch, and William, who is the youngest.

To our subject and wife two children have been born, namely: Laura Lavina,was born in 1882,and died when a year old; the second child died in infancy, unnamed.

Mrs. Daniel is a well educated and accomplished woman, who is prominent in local club life. She is an active and influential member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. She also belongs to the Progressive Workers' Club. She was first vice-president of the Children's Home when it was first organized in Springfield. She is a member of the Pickwick Sewing Club, and is a member of -the Young Men's Christian Association Auxiliary, and belongs to the Second Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Daniel is also a member and an elder. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Order, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Maccabees. Politically he is a Democrat. Mr. Daniel owns a cozy home on Weller street, Springfield.